Czech University Offers Scholarships To Belarusians

Lithuania now hosts the European Humanities University, formerly based in Minsk, which the Belarusian authorities closed down in 2004 (Valery Ruselik)
August 17, 2006 -- A Czech university says it is opening a course for students from Belarus barred from studying in their own country.

Palacky University in Olomouc, 250 kilometers southeast of Prague, says the students will receive government scholarships for a six-month course in Central European studies, starting in September.

On August 16, the Estonian Education Ministry said six Belarusian students expelled from university on political motives have been invited to study in Estonia.

(AP)

The EU Watches Minsk

Belarusian students studying at an EU-funded university in Vilnius, Lithuania

WATCHING AND WAITING: The European Union repeatedly urged Minsk to conduct a fair and democratic presidential election on March 19. The EU external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said in a statement today that the recent arrests of Belarusian opposition figures are "unacceptable" campaign violations. Ferrero-Waldner repeated an EU threat of "targeted sanctions" against top Belarusian officials if the elections are not free and fair. However, the EU will withhold final judgment until March 20, when the bloc's foreign ministers meet in Brussels....(more)